Children's Charter/Key

CONTACT:

77 Rumford Avenue
Waltham, MA 02453
781-894-4325 X 19
www.key.org

Paula Stahl, Ed.D., Director of Children's Charter

DESCRIPTION:

“The Children’s Charter” was the name given to the first English child abuse laws, passed by Parliament at the end of the 19th century. In 1985, Dr. Paula Stahl created an outpatient mental health clinic with that name, to provide highly specialized treatment for low-income children and families coping with the trauma of sexual abuse. Mindful of the stresses on clinicians working intensively with such cases, Dr. Stahl also created a supportive professional environment that featured working in teams and advanced training. Dr. Stahl’s husband, who owned a real estate development company, provided keystone funding for the clinic until his death in 2000. In 2001 CC merged with the Key Program — a larger charity providing residential treatment for traumatized adolescents. From three clinicians in 1985, CC has grown to four full-time and 39 part-time professional staff from various disciplines, serving 300 children and 80 adults weekly. CC is the state’s largest provider of outpatient trauma-focused services for children. Its focus has broadened to include women and children survivors of domestic violence, victims of physical abuse and neglect, survivors of rape, assault and other violent crimes, foster family issues, and families coping with chronic illness and loss. Private philanthropy is needed; please consider helping.

(2006: HUMAN SERVICES: Health and Aging: Disabilities and Children's Disease)